The Good Old Days - City Varieties Music Hall

The BBC’s longest-running variety show The Good Old Days was broadcast from the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds from 1953 for 30 years, boasting appearances from Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth and Barbara Windsor.

The light-hearted recreation of a traditional Music Hall bill using popular TV variety stars of the day, a selection of international speciality acts and a gavel-wielding Chairman, (the much-missed Leonard Sachs), proved to be hugely successful with UK viewing figures regularly topping 10 million. BBC 4 now regularly repeats classic episodes on Fridays which can also be viewed on iPlayer.

In 1988, after City Varieties had passed into the hands of a Charitable Trust, Barney Colehan was engaged to help revive The Good Old Days as a live stage production with the late Johnny Dennis as Chairman plus a live house band and dancers from a local stage school.

Each weekend of performances now features an eclectic mix of established artistes such as Anita Harris, Bernie Clifton or Billy Pierce alongside emerging variety acts such as cabaret star Mat Ricardo, musician Gary Lovini and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett – hosted by a special guest Chairman and accompanied by The City Varieties Orchestra.

Providing a unique, nostalgic experience, live performances of this popular variety show are sure to entertain! So why not come and join us for a trip to The Good Old Days...

Selected Hotel

Sunday: From a morning pickup in your local area we travel by coach to Leeds, where you will have a couple of hours to spend at your leisure. Situated on the River Aire, what was once a leading centre of industry during Victorian times, Leeds now offers much for visitors to see and do. From museums, to picturesque parks, restaurants and shopping opportunities, the choice is yours. We then enjoy the highlight of our weekend, The Good Old Days show at the City Varieties Music Hall. The coach will take you back to the hotel after the show in time for our included dinner.

Monday: After breakfast we check out of the hotel and travel to Harrogate for some free time. Chic, upmarket, called by some the ‘Kensington of the North’, Harrogate has a cosmopolitan café culture, designer boutiques, Georgian water gardens, tree-lined boulevards, Victorian mansions and tranquil parks and gardens. In the mid afternoon, we rejoin the coach and set off for home.